Endoscope inspection report creating apparatus, creating method of endoscope inspection report and storage medium

ABSTRACT

An endoscope inspection report creating apparatus has a file name reading section that reads file names of a plurality of endoscopic images, a file name of each of the endoscopic images including inspection result information separated with use of a predetermined symbol or character, and a report creating section that creates a predetermined report by writing the inspection result information which is included in each of the file names read by the file name reading section in each predetermined position in the predetermined report by associating the inspection result information with the endoscopic image of each of the read file names.

This is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/402,325, filedFeb. 22, 2012, which is a non-provisional of U.S. Provisional App. No.61/446,181, filed Feb. 24, 2011, the entire contents of both of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an endoscope inspection report creatingapparatus, a creating method of an endoscope inspection report and astorage medium.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, endoscope apparatuses have been widely used in theindustrial field and the medical field. An endoscope apparatus has aninsertion portion which has an image pickup unit provided at a distalend portion, and a user who is an inspector brings the distal endportion of the insertion portion close to an object, causes an imagewhich is picked up by the image pickup unit at the distal end portion ofthe insertion portion to be displayed on a monitor, and can cause theimage to be stored in a storage device in accordance with necessity. Forexample, the user can connect the storage device such as a USB memory toa main body and can store an endoscopic image in the storage device.

In a conventional endoscope apparatus, as disclosed in Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-9057, a DCIM directory isautomatically created in a root directory in the storage device inaccordance with the DCF standard, and endoscopic images areautomatically stored under the directory.

When inspection using an endoscope apparatus is performed, theinspection report is created. The report includes an endoscopic image ofthe inspection target, determination information of the inspector andthe like.

Conventionally, when an inspector creates an inspection report from anendoscopic image, the inspector creates the inspection report by pastingeach endoscopic image in the report of a format determined in advance,writing the inspection result and the like by using document creationsoftware or the like of a personal computer.

Further, for example, as described in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open Publication No. 2006-276991, a setting method of adisplay/print screen for outputting the stored image information byusing a template which is set or created in advance when the imageinformation is displayed or printed is proposed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An endoscope inspection report creating apparatus of one aspect of thepresent invention includes a file name reading section that reads filenames of a plurality of endoscopic images, a file name of each of theendoscopic images including inspection result information separated withuse of a predetermined symbol or character, and a report creatingsection that creates a predetermined report by writing the inspectionresult information which is included in each of the file names read bythe file name reading section in each predetermined position in thepredetermined report by associating the inspection result informationwith the endoscopic image of each of the read file names.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an external configuration view of an endoscope apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a circuit configuration of aninside of a main body section 2 of an endoscope apparatus 1 according tothe embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of a folder of ahierarchical structure according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining transition of screen display at atime of change of a storage destination folder, according to theembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are flowcharts showing an example of a flow of changeprocessing of the storage destination folder according to the embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a display example of a confirmation messageaccording to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a screen in a case in which thestorage destination folder is changed in a state in which a still imageis displayed, according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a display example of a file mark setting windowaccording to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining a configuration of a file nameaccording to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view for explaining an example of a configuration of anendoscope inspection report according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is a view for explaining an example of a template 100 a of areport according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of creationprocessing of the report according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a display example of a pop-up windowdisplaying folders which do not include a file, according to theembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a file mark correspondencetable storing a character string to be written in a column 104 a of thetemplate 100 a for each file mark, according to the embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 16 is a view for explaining a display example of an inspectedfolder which does not include an endoscopic image and an uninspectedfolder in the report, according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the drawings.

(Entire Configuration)

First, based on FIG. 1, a configuration of an endoscope apparatusaccording to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is anexternal configuration view of the endoscope apparatus according to thepresent embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope apparatus 1 is configured to include amain body section 2 which is a main unit, and a scope unit 3 which isconnected to the main body section 2. The main body section 2 has aliquid crystal display (hereinafter, abbreviated as an LCD) 4 as adisplay apparatus in which an endoscopic image, an operation menu andthe like are displayed. The LCD 4 is a display section which displays anendoscopic image. As will be described later, the LCD 4 may be providedwith a touch panel (FIG. 2). The scope unit 3 has an operation section5, a universal cable 6 which is a connection cable for connecting theoperation section 5 to the main body section 2, and an insertion portion7 which includes a flexible insertion tube. The scope unit 3 isattachable to and detachable from the main body section 2. An imagepickup unit (FIG. 2) which will be described later is contained in adistal end portion 8 of the insertion portion 7. The image pickup unitis configured by an image pickup device such as a CCD sensor or a CMOSsensor, for example, and an image pickup optical system such as a lenswhich is disposed at an image pickup surface side of the image pickupdevice. A bending portion 9 is provided at a proximal end side of thedistal end portion 8. An optical adapter 10 is configured to beattachable to the distal end portion 8. The operation section 5 isprovided with various operation buttons such as a freeze button, astorage instruction button (hereinafter, REC button), and an up, down,left and right (UID/L/R) direction bending button.

A user can perform image pickup of an object, still image storage andthe like by operating the various operation buttons of the operationsection 5. Further, the user can select a storage destination folder byperforming an operation of tilting a joystick 5 a provided at theoperation section 5 in any one of up, down, left and right directions,when the user performs change of the storage destination folder for anendoscopic image, which will be described later. Further, in the case ofthe configuration in which the touch panel is provided at the LCD 4, theuser can give instructions of various operations of the endoscopeapparatus 1 by operating the touch panel. More specifically, the touchpanel configures an instruction section which gives an instruction onthe operation content of the endoscope apparatus 1.

The image data of the endoscopic image which is picked up and obtainedis inspection data of an inspection target, and is stored in a memorycard 11, which is a storage medium. The memory card 11 is attachable toand detachable from the main body section 2.

In the present embodiment, image data is stored in the memory card 11 asa storage medium attachable to and detachable from the main body section2, but the image data may be stored in a memory contained in the mainbody section 2.

The user can bring the distal end portion 8 of the insertion portion 7to a site to be inspected of an inspection target, photograph the siteto be inspected, obtains an endoscopic image, and can cause theendoscopic image to be displayed on the LCD 4. Further, as will bedescribed later, the user can change the storage destination folder forendoscopic images while confirming the folder in the memory card 11which stores the endoscopic images at the time of inspection, andoperating the operation section 5 if necessary.

(Circuit Configuration)

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a circuit configuration of aninside of the main body section 2 of the endoscope apparatus 1.

The main body section 2 includes a central processing apparatus(hereinafter, called a CPU) 21, a ROM 22 and a RAM 23, which areconnected to one another through a bus 24. Further, a plurality ofvarious interfaces (hereinafter, called I/Fs) 25 to 31 are connected tothe bus 24. The I/F 25 is a drive and receiving circuit for performingtransmission of a drive signal to an image pickup unit 41 of the scope3, and reception of an image pickup signal from the image pickup unit41. The I/F 26 is a drive circuit for transmitting a drive signal to anLED 42 as an illumination section.

The I/F 27 is a circuit for receiving various operation signals from theoperation section 5. Various operation signals from the operationsection 5 include an operation signal of the joystick 5 a. In the caseof the configuration in which the touch panel 32 is provided at the LCD4, the I/F 28 is provided as a circuit for receiving a drive signal tothe touch panel 32 and an operation signal from the touch panel 32. TheI/F 29 is a circuit for supplying an image signal to the LCD 4.

The I/F 30 is a circuit for performing write of an image signal to thememory card 11 and read of an image signal from the memory card 11. TheI/F 30 is connected to the memory card 11 via a connector 33 provided atthe main body section 2. The memory card 11 is detachably fitted to theconnector 33.

The I/F 31 is a circuit for connecting a personal computer (hereinafter,called a PC) 43, which is an external device, to the main body section2. The PC 43 is connected to the main body section 2 via a connector notillustrated, and the main body section 2 can exchange data with the PC43 via the I/F 31 which is connected to the connector.

The PC 43 has a CPU 43 a and a monitor 44, and a storage device 45 isconnected to the PC 43. In the storage device 45, a report creationprogram 45 a which will be described later is stored, and the reportwhich is created by the report creation program 45 a is displayed on themonitor 44, or outputted by a printer not illustrated. The storagedevice 45 further includes a template storage section 45 b which storesa template which is used at a time of report creation which will bedescribed later.

The main body section 2 contains a battery 34 in an inside thereof, andthe battery 34 supplies power supply to various circuits in the mainbody section 2.

Each of the I/Fs operates under control of the CPU 21. When theendoscope apparatus 1 is actuated, the CPU 21 outputs various drivesignals to the image pickup unit 41 via the I/F 25, and the image pickupunit 41 outputs an image pickup signal to the CPU 21. The CPU 21 outputsa drive instruction signal for the LED 42 to the I/F 26, and the LED 42is driven by the output of the OF 26, and illuminates the object, as aresult of which, a live image is displayed on the LCD 4.

Since the operation section 5 is connected to the CPU 21 via the OF 27,the operation section 5 supplies, to the CPU 21, various operationsignals indicating the operation contents by the user to the operationsection 5. When the user depresses the freeze button as will bedescribed later, the CPU 21 generates a still image based on the imagepickup signal from the image pickup unit 41, and when the user furtherdepresses the REC button, the image data of the still image is stored inthe memory card 11. Since the still image by freeze is displayed on theLCD 4, the user can confirm the still image, and when the user storesthe still image, the user depresses the REC button.

(Folder Configuration)

A user can create an optional folder in the memory card 11. For example,the user creates a plurality of folders having a hierarchical structurein the memory card 11 by using a PC before endoscope inspection. Morespecifically, the user can create a plurality of folders of desiredfolder names under “root”, and can cause each of the folders to storeendoscopic images. Further, folders can be further created under theupper folders. That is to say, the user can create the folders having ahierarchical structure in the storage medium. Subsequently, as will bedescribed later, the user can store, in a desired folder, the endoscopicimage which is picked up and obtained by the image pickup unit 41 of thescope 3.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of folders of ahierarchical structure. FIG. 3 schematically expresses respectivefolders and files included in the folders in order to explain thefolders of a hierarchical structure, and here, FIG. 3 shows the exampleof the folder having two hierarchical layers, that is, two levels.

As shown in FIG. 3, the folder of “DCIM” is located under “root”, and alower folder named “IV70001” is located under the folder of “DCIM”.

Further, a folder of “ENGINE1_SN001” is created under “root”, and threelower folders named “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1”, “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)2”,and “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE2_(—)1” are created under the folder of“ENGINE1_SN001”.

Furthermore, under “root”, a folder of “ENGINE2_SN002” is also created,and under the folder of “ENGINE2_SN002”, two lower folders named“HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1” and “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)3” are created.

“ENGINE1” and “ENGINE2” in “ENGINE1_SN001” and “ENGINE2_SN002”represent, for example, engine names, “SN001” and “SN002” representserial numbers and the like, and “ENGINE1_SN001” and “ENGINE2_SN002”respectively represent inspection target information.

The three folders of “DCIM”, “ENGINE1_SN001” and “ENGINE2_SN002” of theupper hierarchical layer are the folders of the same hierarchical layer.The folder of “ENGINE1_SN001”, and the folders of “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1and “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)2” are the folders of the hierarchical layersdifferent from each other, and the folder of “ENGINE2_SN002” and thefolders of “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1” and “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)3” are ofthe hierarchical layers different from each other.

That is to say, the user creates a folder with an optional name inadvance under “root” in the memory card 11. The user may perform thefolder creating work with the outside apparatus such as the PC 43, ormay perform the folder creating work by connecting a hardware keyboardto the endoscope apparatus 1 and operating the hardware keyboard.Further, the user may perform the folder creating work by operating asetting screen displayed on the LCD 4 and a software keyboard which isconfigured as GUI. Furthermore, in the case of the configuration inwhich the touch panel 32 is provided at the LCD 4, the user may performthe folder creating work by operating the touch panel 32 or the like, byusing the setting screen displayed on the LCD 4. As will be describedlater, the user selects an optional folder from a plurality of folderswhich are created in advance in this manner as a storage destinationfolder for endoscopic images, and can store the obtained endoscopicimages in the selected folder.

In the present embodiment, the number of the folder hierarchical layersis two, but the number of the folder hierarchical layers may be three ormore, and further, as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 3, the number offolders of the same hierarchical layer may be three or more. Further,the number of the folder hierarchical layers does not have to be alwaystwo or more, and the folder structure with only one hierarchical layerunder “root” may be adopted.

Furthermore, in FIG. 3, two folders have the lower folder name of“HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1”, but the upper folders of the two folders differfrom each other, and therefore, there is no problem even if the twofolders have the same folder name. Note that the same hierarchicallayer, that is, in the same hierarchical layer, the same folder namecannot be given to a plurality of folders.

As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of endoscopic images in a JPEG formatare shown to be stored in three folders of “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1”,“HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)2” and “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE2_(—)1”.

The file name included in each of the folders has a configuration inwhich a file mark and a serial number are added to the folder names ofthe upper and lower hierarchical layers. That is to say, the file nameis “upper folder name_lower folder name_file mark_serial number.jpg”.

For example, the folder name of “ENGINE1_SN001” of the upper folder andthe folder name of “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1” of the lower folder are connectedwith symbol “_” (under bar), the file mark “A” and the serial number“001” are further added, and the file name as“ENGINE1_SN001_HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_A_(—)001.jpg” is generated. Theconfiguration of the file name will be described in more detail later.

(Screen Display)

Next, screen display at a time of change of the storage destinationfolder will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining atransition of screen display at the time of change of the storagedestination folder.

When the power supply of the endoscope apparatus 1 is turned ON, a liveimage of a target picked up by the image pickup unit 41 is displayed onthe screen of the LCD 4. The user performs inspection while watching thelive image of the inspection target (turbine blade in FIG. 4) which isdisplayed on the screen.

On a screen 4 a of the LCD 4, the live image, and the storagedestination folder name for the image are displayed. After the powersupply is turned ON, the “DCIM” folder under “root” is set in advance asthe storage destination folder. Therefore, as shown in a screen 51,directly after the power supply is turned ON, “DCIM¥” is displayed onthe screen 4 a as the storage destination folder.

On the screen 51 of FIG. 4, information “DCIM¥” which indicates that thestorage destination folder is the folder of “DCIM” is displayed at anupper left side of the screen 4 a. On other screens 52 and the like,information including the storage destination folder names is alsodisplayed at upper left sides of the screens 4 a. However, the positionof the information does not have to be the upper left side of thescreen, and may be at an upper right side, for example.

Furthermore, in the case of FIG. 4, the mark “¥” is added to the foldernames of the storage destination folders in the screens 51, 52 and 53 asthe information indicating the storage destination folders. However, themark “¥” does not have to be added.

Further, in the case of FIG. 4, the information indicating the storagedestination folder is the information including the folder name of thestorage destination folder. However, it is sufficient only if the usercan recognize and discriminate the storage destination folder.Accordingly, the information indicating the storage destination folderdoes not have to include all the folder names of the storage destinationfolder, and may include only the folder name of the hierarchical layerwhich is selected at present, for example.

When the user desires to store a still image in the desired folder whichis created in advance, the user can select the folder by operating thejoystick 5 a. When the joystick 5 a is tilted in any one of thedirections of up (U), down (D), left (L) and right (R), the folder isselected from a plurality of folders of the hierarchical structure inaccordance with the direction, and is set as the storage destinationfolder.

FIG. 4 expresses the screen transition when the storage destinationfolder is selected from folder groups, where the three folders arecreated under the folder of “ENGINE1_SN001” and the two folders arecreated under the folder of “ENGINE2_SN002” as shown in FIG. 3. Theorder of display of the storage destination folders in each of thehierarchical layers is set in advance so that display is performed in apredetermined order such as the order of the creation dates and times offolders, the alphabetic order of the folder names, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the joystick 5 a is tilted down (that is,tilted in a D direction) from the state of the screen 51, the folder of“ENGINE1_SN001” which is the next folder (folder under the folder of“DCIM”, in FIG. 3) of the same hierarchical layer is selected as thestorage destination folder, and the screen transitions to the screen 52from the screen 51.

When the joystick 5 a is tilted up (that is, tilted in a U direction) inthe state of the screen 52, the folder of “DCIM” which is the previousfolder of the same hierarchical layer (folder which is upper from thefolder of “ENGINE1_SN001”, in FIG. 3) is selected as the storagedestination folder, and the screen transitions to the screen 51 from thescreen 52.

When the joystick 5 a is tilted down (that is, tilted in the Ddirection) from the state of the screen 52, the folder of“ENGINE2_SN002” which is the next folder of the same hierarchical layeris selected as the storage destination folder, and the screentransitions to a screen 53 from the screen 52.

When the joystick 5 a is tilted down (that is, tilted in the Ddirection) from the state of the screen 53, the folder of “DCIM” whichis the first folder of the same hierarchical layer is selected as thestorage destination folder, and the screen transitions to the screen 51from the screen 53.

Further, when the joystick 5 a is tilted to the right (that is, tiltedin an R direction) in the state of the screen 52, the folder of“HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1” which is the first folder (the uppermost folderin FIG. 3) of the lower hierarchical layer is selected as the storagedestination folder, and the screen transitions to a screen 54 from thescreen 52.

Furthermore, when the joystick 5 a is tilted to the left (that is,tilted in an L direction) in the state of the screen 54, the folder of“ENGINE1_SN001” which is the folder of the upper hierarchical layer isselected as the storage destination folder, and the screen transitionsto the screen 52 from the screen 54.

When the joystick 5 a is tilted down (that is, tilted in the Ddirection) from the state of the screen 54, the folder of“HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)2” which is the next folder of the samehierarchical layer is selected as the storage destination folder, andthe screen transitions to a screen 55 from the screen 54.

When the joystick 5 a is tilted up (that is, tilted in the U direction)in the state of the screen 55, the folder of “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1”which is the previous folder of the same hierarchical layer is selectedas the storage destination folder, and the screen transitions to thescreen 54 from the screen 55.

When the joystick 5 a is tilted down (that is, tilted in the Ddirection) from the state of the screen 55, the folder of“HPC_STAGE1_ZONE2_(—)1” which is the next folder of the samehierarchical layer is selected as the storage destination folder, andthe screen transitions from the screen 55 to a screen 56.

Further, when the joystick 5 a is tilted up (that is, tilted in the Udirection) in the state of the screen 54, the folder of“HPC_STAGE1_ZONE2_(—)1” which is the last folder of the samehierarchical layer is selected as the storage destination folder, andthe screen transitions from the screen 54 to the screen 56.

Further, when the joystick 5 a is tilted down (that is, tilted in the Ddirection) in the state of the screen 56, the folder of“HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1” which is the first folder of the samehierarchical layer is selected as the storage destination folder, andthe screen transitions from the screen 56 to the screen 54.

Furthermore, when the joystick 5 a is tilted to the left (that is,tilted in the L direction) in the state of the screen 55 or 56, thefolder of “ENGINE1_SN001” which is the folder of the upper hierarchicallayer is selected as the storage destination folder, and the screentransitions to the screen 52 from the screen 55 or 56.

Screen transition among the folder of “ENGINE2_SN002” and the two lowerfolders “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1” and “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)3” is performedamong the screens 53, 57 and 58 similarly to the screen transition ofthe screens 52, 54, 55 and 56, as shown in FIG. 4.

Accordingly, the user can confirm the storage destination folder whilewatching the live image, and can easily perform change.

In the case of FIG. 4, when the joystick 5 a is tilted to the right(that is, tilted in the R direction) in the state of the screen 52 or53, after the screen transitions to the screen 52 or 53 from the screen55, 56 or 58, the screen transitions to the screen 54 or 57 from thescreen 52 or 53 so that the folder of “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1” which isthe first folder of the lower hierarchical layer is selected as thestorage destination folder. However, when the joystick 5 a is tilted tothe right (that is, tilted in the R direction) in the state of thescreen 52 or 53, after the screen transitions to the screen 52 or 53from the screen 55, 56 or 58, the screen 55, 56 or 58 may be displayedas shown by the dotted line DL1 in FIG. 4. To this end, the folder dataof the transition screen is stored in the RAM 23, and the CPU 21controls the screen display to display a folder before the transition.

In the case of FIG. 4, the folder of “DCIM” is selected or set as thestorage destination folder by default, but a predetermined folder in thefolder of the uppermost hierarchical layer other than the folder of“DCIM”, for example, the folder of “ENGINE1_SN001” as the first folder,may be selected by default.

Furthermore, when the folder is shifted to the folder of the samehierarchical folder in the uppermost hierarchical layer, the folder maybe selected only among the folders other than “DCIM”. In FIG. 4, whenthe joystick 5 a is tilted down (that is, tilted in the D direction) inthe state of the screen 53 as shown by the dotted line DL2, the screenmay be made to transition to the screen 52. Then, when the joystick 5 ais tilted up (that is, tilted in the U direction) in the state of thescreen 52, the screen may be made to transition to the screen 53.

In the present embodiment, only the folder name of the hierarchicallayer which is selected at present is displayed on the screen, but, forexample, when the folder name of the lower hierarchical layer isdisplayed, the folder name of the hierarchical layer upper from thefolder may be displayed in combination. At this time, the folder name inthe screen 54, for example, is “ENGINE1_SN001¥HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1”.

(Change Processing of Storage Destination Folder)

Next, change processing of the aforementioned storage destination folderwill be described. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are flowcharts showing an exampleof a flow of the change processing of the storage destination folder.

First, when the power supply of the endoscope apparatus 1 is turned ON,the CPU 21 sets the folder “DCIM”, which is the folder determined inadvance as default, as the storage destination folder, after executingvarious kinds of initial processing (S1). The set data is stored in apredetermined storage region of the RAM 23, for example, as the set dataof the storage destination folder in image storage processing which theendoscope apparatus has.

Thereafter, the CPU 21 displays a live image and the storage destinationfolder name on the screen 4 a of the LCD 4 as the screen 51, based onthe image pickup signal from the image pickup unit 41 (S2). Theprocessing of S2 configures a storage destination folder informationdisplay section which displays the information indicating the storagedestination folder in the state in which the endoscopic image isdisplayed in the display section.

Next, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the joystick 5 a is tilted inthe right (R) direction (S3), and when the joystick 5 a is tilted in theright (R) direction (S3: YES), the CPU 21 determines whether or not thepresent storage destination folder has a lower folder (S4).

When a lower folder which is of a different hierarchical layer is absent(S4: NO), the processing returns to S3. When the lower folder is present(S4: YES), the CPU 21 sets the first folder of the lower folder as thestorage destination folder, and changes the display of the storagedestination folder name in the screen 4 a (S5). Since the information ofthe storage destination folder is stored in the predetermined storageregion of the RAM 23 as described above, the data of the predeterminedstorage region is rewritten with the data of the set, namely, changedfolder.

For example, when the joystick 5 a is tilted in the right (R) directionin the state in which the “ENGINE1_SN001” folder is the storagedestination folder (screen 52), the “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1” folder whichis the first folder of the lower hierarchical layer is set as thestorage destination folder. That is to say, the screen transitions fromthe screen 52 to 54.

A lower folder which is automatically created in accordance with the DCFstandard is present in the “DCIM” folder, but the lower folder is notrecognized. As a result, the folder of “DCIM” is set as the storagedestination folder directly after the power supply is turned ON, buteven if in this state (that is, the state of the screen 51), thejoystick 5 a is tilted in the right (R) direction, the CPU 21 determinesthat the lower folder is absent (S4: NO).

In the case of NO in S3, and after the processing of S5, the CPU 21determines whether or not the joystick 5 a is tilted in the left (L)direction (S6), and when the joystick 5 a is tilted in the left (L)direction (S6: YES), the CPU 21 determines whether or not an upperfolder of the present storage destination folder is present (S7).

When the upper folder which is of a different hierarchical layer isabsent (S7: NO), the processing returns to S6. When the upper folder ofthe present storage destination folder is present (S7: YES), the CPU 21sets the upper folder as the storage destination folder, and changesdisplay of the storage destination folder name in the screen 4 a (S8).

Since the “DCIM” folder, the “ENGINE1_SN001” folder and the“ENGINE2_SN002” do not have an upper folder, the CPU 21 determines thatthe upper folder is absent even if the joystick 5 a is tilted in theleft (L) direction in the states of the screens 51, 52 and 53 (S7: NO).Accordingly, in this case, the screens 51, 52 and 53 do not change.

In the case of NO in S6, and after the processing of S8, the CPU 21determines whether or not the joystick 5 a is tilted in the down (D)direction (S9). When the joystick 5 a is tilted in the down (D)direction (S9: YES), the CPU 21 determines whether or not the folder ofthe same hierarchical layer as the present storage destination folder ispresent (S 10).

When the folder of the same hierarchical layer is absent (S10: NO), theprocessing returns to S9. When the folder of the same hierarchical layeras the present storage destination folder is present (S10: YES), the CPU21 sets the next folder of the same hierarchical layer as the storagedestination folder, and changes display of the storage destinationfolder name in the screen 4 a (S11).

For example, when the joystick 5 a is tilted in the down (D) directionin the state in which the “DCIM” folder is the storage destinationfolder (state of the screen 51), the “ENGINE1_SN001” folder which is thenext folder of the same hierarchical layer is set as the storagedestination folder. That is to say, the screen transitions from thescreen 51 to 52. Further, when the joystick 5 a is tilted in the down(D) direction, the “ENGINE2_SN002” folder which is the next folder ofthe same hierarchical layer is set as the storage destination folder.That is to say, the screen transitions from the screen 52 to 53.Further, when the joystick 5 a is tilted in the down (D) direction, the“DCIM” folder which is the first folder of the same hierarchical layeris set as the storage destination folder display of the storagedestination folder in the screen 4 a is changed since the next folder ofthe same hierarchical layer is absent. Then, the screen transitions fromthe screen 53 to 51.

In the same manner, if the joystick 5 a is tilted in the down (D)direction in the state of the screen 54 in which the“HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1” folder is set as the storage destination folder,the screen transitions from the screen 54 to the screen 55 in which the“HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)2” folder is set as the storage destination folder.Further, when the joystick 5 a is tilted down in the down (D) directionin the state of the screen 55, the screen transitions from the screen 55to the screen 56 in which the “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE2_(—)1” folder is set asthe storage destination folder.

Further, when the joystick 5 a is tilted in the down (D) direction inthe state of the screen 56, the “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1” folder which isthe first folder of the same hierarchical layer is set as the storagedestination folder since the next folder of the same hierarchical layeris absent. That is to say, the screen transitions from the screen 56 to54.

In the case of NO in S9, and after the processing of S11, the CPU 21determines whether or not the joystick 5 a is tilted in the up (U)direction (S12). When the joystick 5 a is tilted in the up (U) direction(S12: YES), the CPU 21 determines whether or not the folder of the samehierarchical layer as the present storage destination folder is present(S13).

When the folder of the same hierarchical layer is absent (S13: NO), theprocessing returns to S12. When the folder of the same hierarchicallayer as the present storage destination folder is present (S13: YES),the CPU 21 sets the previous folder of the same hierarchical layer asthe storage destination folder, and changes display of the storagedestination folder name in the screen 4 a (S14).

For example, when the joystick 5 a is tilted in the up (U) direction inthe state in which the “ENGINE1_SN001” folder is the storage destinationfolder (state of the screen 52), for example, the “DCIM” folder which isthe previous folder of the same hierarchical layer is set as the storagedestination folder. That is to say, the screen transitions from thescreen 52 to 51. Further, when the joystick 5 a is tilted in the up (U)direction, the “ENGINE2_SN002” folder which is the last folder of thesame hierarchical layer is set as the storage destination folder since aprevious folder of the same hierarchical layer is absent, display of thestorage destination folder in the screen 4 a is changed, and the screentransitions from the screen 51 to 53.

In the same manner, when the joystick 5 a is tilted in the up (U)direction in the state of the screen 55 in which the“HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)2” folder is set as the storage destination folder,the screen transitions from the screen 55 to the screen 54 in which the“HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1” folder is set as the storage destination folder.Further, when the joystick 5 a is tilted in the up (U) direction in thestate of the screen 54, the “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE2_(—)1” folder which is thelast folder of the same hierarchical layer is set as the storagedestination folder, since the previous folder of the same hierarchicallayer is absent. That is to say, the screen transitions from the screen54 to 56.

The processing of S3 to S14 of the above configures a storagedestination folder changing section which changes the storagedestination folder in accordance with an operation of the operationsection 5. More specifically, the processing of S3 to S14 configures thestorage destination folder changing section which changes the storagedestination folder in the state in which a live image is displayed,which is the state in which the endoscopic image is displayed on the LCD4, and is the state in which the live image which is being picked up bythe image pickup section provided at the insertion portion of theendoscope is displayed.

Returning to FIG. 5, in the case of NO in S12, and after the processingof S14, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the freeze button isdepressed (FIG. 6, S21).

When the freeze button is not depressed (S21: NO), the processingreturns to S2. When the freeze button is depressed (S21: YES), the CPU21 determines whether or not the REC button is depressed (S22). The RECbutton is a button which performs instruction for storing the frozenimage in the storage medium. When the freeze button is depressed, theCPU 21 generates a still image based on the image pickup signal from theimage pickup unit 41, and displays the still image on the LCD 4.

The configuration may be adopted, in which when the freeze button isdepressed in S21, the storage destination folder can be changed in thefreeze state of a live image, as in S3 to S14 in the state in which alive image is displayed.

When the REC button is not depressed, the processing returns to S21. Itis determined whether the freeze state is continued, in other words,whether the freeze state is unterminated or not. If the freeze state isterminated (S21: NO), the processing returns to S2.

If the REC button is depressed (S22: YES), the CPU 21 displays apredetermined confirmation message as shown in FIG. 7 on the screen 4 a(S23).

FIG. 7 is a view showing a display example of the confirmation message.On the screen 4 a of the LCD 4, a still image by freeze is displayed,and on the screen, a predetermined confirmation message is displayed bya pop-up window 61. FIG. 7 is a display example in the case of the RECbutton being depressed in the display state of the screen 54, and amessage 62 to the effect that “Store in “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1”.” isdisplayed in the window 61.

Further, the window 61 also includes an “OK” button 63 and a “cancel”button 64, and the user can select the “OK” button 63 or the “cancel”button 64 by performing a predetermined operation in the operationsection 5. In FIG. 7, the “OK” button 63 is in a selected state asdefault, and therefore, the “OK” button 63 is displayed by being moreemphasized than the “cancel” button 64.

The user selects the “OK” button 63 when the user stores the still imagewhich is obtained by freeze in the folder shown in the confirmationmessage. However, when the user stores the still image which is obtainedby freeze in the folder other than the folder shown in the confirmationmessage, the user selects the “cancel” button 64.

After S23, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the “OK” button 63 isdepressed. When the “OK” button 63 is not depressed, that is, when the“cancel” button 64 is depressed (S24: YES), the CPU 21 erases the window61 from the screen 4 a, and the processing shifts to S25.

A still image by freeze, and the storage destination folder name whichis set at present are displayed on the screen 4 a. The user can changethe storage destination folder by operating the joystick 5 a in thescreen display state.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of the screen in a case in which thestorage destination folder is changed in the state in which a stillimage is displayed. When the joystick 5 a is operated in the state inwhich the still image displayed by freeze is displayed, the storagedestination folder is changed in response to the operation, and only thefolder name which is displayed in a storage destination folder displayregion 65 which displays the storage destination folder changes in thescreen 4 a, in response to the operation of the joystick 5 a.Accordingly, the user displays a desired storage destination folder nameon the storage destination folder display region 65 by operating thejoystick 5 a, and can change the storage destination folder.

The processing of S25 configures a storage destination folder changingsection which changes a storage destination folder in accordance with anoperation of the operation section 5, and also configures a storagedestination folder information display section which displaysinformation indicating the storage destination folder in the state inwhich an endoscopic image is displayed on the LCD 4.

In particular, the processing of S25 configures the storage destinationfolder changing section which can change the storage destination folderin the state in which a still image is displayed, which is the state inwhich an endoscopic image is displayed on the LCD 4, and the state inwhich the still image which is picked up and obtained by the imagepickup section provided in the insertion portion of the endoscope isdisplayed.

As above, in the case of NO in S24, the CPU 21 changes the storagedestination folder as shown in FIG. 4 in accordance with the tiltingoperation in the up, down, left and right directions of the joystick 5a, and the user selects and sets a desired folder as the storagedestination folder, and changes display of the storage destinationfolder name in the screen 4 a (S25).

It is determined whether or not the REC button is depressed again, inthe state in which the storage destination folder is set and changed(S26). If the REC button is not depressed (S26: NO), the processingreturns to S25.

If the REC button is depressed in S26 (S26: YES), the processing shiftsto S23, and the CPU 21 displays a predetermined message for confirmationof the storage destination folder (S23).

When the storage destination folder is confirmed (S24: YES), settingprocessing of a file mark is performed (S27). The file mark is apredetermined mark which is added to the file name which is stored andfunctions as an identification symbol.

The file mark is optionally added by the user to show what image thestored image is. For example, in order to classify images into the kindsof “No problem (Accept)”, “Replacement required (Reject)”, “Repairrequired (Repair)”, and “Re-inspection required (Re-Inspect)”, filemarks are added to file names. That is to say, the file mark isinspection result information which the user who is an inspector adds toan endoscopic image by watching the endoscopic image. Further, there isthe kind of “Nothing”. “Nothing” means no file mark (that is, no filemark can be added). Accordingly, addition of a file mark is performedaccording to a user's option.

FIG. 9 is a view of a display example of a file mark setting window insetting processing of a file mark.

A window 71 of FIG. 9 is also displayed as a pop-up window on a stillimage display screen as the window 61. The user can select any one offour kinds (five kinds if “nothing” indicating that nothing is added isincluded) by performing a predetermined operation in the operationsection 5. In the case of FIG. 9, the four kinds of file marks, “A”,“B”, “C” and “D” can be added. Here, “A” corresponds to “No problem(Accept)”, “B” corresponds to “Replacement required (Reject)”, “C”corresponds to “Repair required (Repair)”, and “D” corresponds to“Re-inspection required (Re-Inspect)”.

Here, the file marks are single characters, but the file marks may be aplurality of characters, and character strings such as “ACCEPT” and“REPAIR”.

The file name is made by addition of a file mark and a serial number tothe folder name of the folder in which the file is stored, andtherefore, the user can recognize the inspection result about theendoscopic image of a file, only by looking at the file mark in the filename. For example, if the file name is“HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1_A_(—)001.jpg”, the inspection result is found tobe “No problem (Accept)”, since the file mark is “A”. If the file nameis “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1_B_(—)001.jpg”, the inspection result is foundto be “Replacement required (Reject)”, since the file mark is “B”.

Accordingly, the user can judge the inspection site or the like from thefolder name only by looking at the file name, and also judge the kind ofthe image.

In FIG. 9, when the window 71 is displayed as a pop-up window, “nothing”which indicates that nothing is added is in the selected state bydefault. Accordingly, if an operation of giving an instruction tofinalize selection is performed in the state of FIG. 9, a file mark isnot added to the file name. That is to say, the file name becomes“HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1_(—)001.jpg” or the like.

The processing of S27 configures an identification symbol settingsection which selects a file mark from a plurality of predetermined filemarks and sets the file mark.

Returning to FIG. 6, in the case of YES in S24, the processing shifts tothe setting processing of a file mark (S27), and file mark additionprocessing of including a file mark in a file name as described above isexecuted.

Thereafter, the CPU 21 stores an image in the selected or set storagedestination folder (S28). That is to say, S28 configures a storagesection which stores an endoscopic image in the storage destinationfolder which is set as the storage destination for an endoscopic imagefrom a plurality of folders which are created in the memory card 11 inadvance.

Further, in S28, when a still image of the endoscopic image which isacquired in response to the storage instruction from the operationsection 5 is stored, the still image is stored in the set or changedstorage destination folder after a predetermined confirmation messageabout the storage destination folder is displayed, and confirmation ofthe storage destination folder is performed.

Furthermore, in S28, the file mark which is set in S27 is added to thefile name of the endoscopic image, and the endoscopic image is stored inthe storage destination folder.

Subsequently, the CPU 21 determines whether or not an end instruction isgiven (S29), and when the end instruction is given (S29: YES), theprocessing ends. If the end instruction is not given (S29: NO), theprocessing shifts to S2.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the joystick is an operation sectionwhich is operable in the first direction which is a lateral direction,and the second direction which is a vertical direction orthogonal to thelateral direction. As for change of the storage destination folder, thestorage destination folder is changed by hierarchical layer movement inthe vertical direction of the hierarchical structure in response to theoperation in the lateral direction, and the storage destination folderis changed by movement in the same hierarchical layer of thehierarchical structure in response to the operation in the verticaldirection. Accordingly, by the operation of the joystick correspondingto the image of the hierarchical structure of the folder, the user canperform transition of the screen.

Furthermore, the operation section for changing the storage destinationfolder may be a so-called cruciform key, up, down, right and left keys,a button assigned with a function at the time of change of a folder orthe like, in place of the joystick. Further, the operation section maybe a cruciform key, up, down, left and right keys and the like generatedby software, which are displayed on the screen.

Further, in the aforementioned embodiment, the joystick 5 a is adedicated joystick for change or selection of the storage destinationfolder. However, a joystick for use in a bending operation may be usedas the operation device for selection of the storage destination folderunder mode switching.

Furthermore, in the aforementioned embodiment, the informationindicating the storage destination folder is displayed when a live imageis displayed. However, the information indicating the storagedestination folder may be displayed only when the freeze button isdepressed.

As shown in FIG. 4, a user can confirm the storage destination folderwhen the user stores an endoscopic image, and can easily change thestorage destination folder.

Further, the folder names are displayed on the screens shown in FIG. 4,FIG. 7, FIG. 8 or the like. There are causes where the user desires toconfirm the meaning of the numerals since the character string of theinspection purpose in the folder name is numerals in the presentembodiment. Thus, if the user superimposes a cursor on the characterstring indicating an inspection purpose, or performs a predeterminedoperation in the screen display state of FIG. 4 or the like, forexample, the content of the meaning of the numerals may be displayed ona pop-up window. For example, in FIG. 7, when the cursor is moved to theposition of the lowermost “1” of the folder name“HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1”, the character string “Cracks” is displayed.Accordingly, the user who is an inspector can confirm the presentinspection purpose, or can easily confirm whether the storagedestination folder is the right storage destination folder.

(Configuration of File Name)

Here, a configuration of a file name will be described. FIG. 10 is aview for explaining the configuration of a file name. The file name isconfigured by five elements of first to fifth portions 81 to 85. Theelements are separated by predetermined symbols.

An example of the file name of FIG. 10 is“ENGINE1_SN001_HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1_A_(—)001.jpg”. In the file name,the first “ENGINE1_SN001” is the portion 81 of the folder name of thefirst hierarchical layer, and corresponds to inspection targetinformation including the character string indicating an inspectiontarget shown by the engine name, the serial number and the like, forexample.

The next “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1” is the portion 82 of the folder name ofthe second hierarchical layer lower than the first hierarchical layer,and corresponds to inspection location information and inspectionpurpose information including character strings indicating theinspection location (or site) and the inspection purpose, for example.“HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1” corresponds to inspection location informationindicating the inspection site or location. The last “1” which isseparated by a symbol “_” (under bar) from “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1”corresponds to inspection purpose information which is a characterstring (numeral in this case) showing the inspection purpose, that is,what inspection is performed, for example, whether inspection for acrack, or inspection for a surface defect is performed. In the presentembodiment, the case of the last character (numeral) of the portion 82of the folder name being “1” means crack inspection, “2” indicates asurface defect (flaking, or the like) inspection, and “3” indicatesinspection for corrosion. That is to say, the last character of theportion 82 of the folder name corresponds to inspection purposeinformation.

As above, the first portion 81 and the second portion 82 include thefolder names of the folders in which the file is stored. A plurality offiles of endoscopic images are stored by being classified according tothe inspection purposes since the folder names include the informationof the inspection target, the inspection site and the inspectionpurpose. In other words, the folder configuration shows the content ofinspection or the procedure of inspection.

Further, “A” in the file name corresponds to the portion 83 of the filemark. The file mark is inspection result information which includes acharacter showing the inspection result. The inspection resultinformation is the information of the determination result of a userperforming determination in the endoscope inspection. For example, ifthe file mark in the file name is “A”, it means that the endoscopicimage is the image with which the user determines the component as “noproblem” without a crack in the component of the inspection target. Ifthe file mark in the file name is “B”, it means that the endoscopicimage is the image with which the user determines the component as“replacement required” since the component has a crack. If the file markin the file name is “C”, it means that the endoscopic image is the imagewith which the user determines the component as “repair required” sincethe component has a crack. If the file mark in the file name is “D”, itmeans that the endoscopic image is the image with which the userdetermines the component as “re-inspection required” since the componenthas a crack.

Further, “001” in the file name is the portion 84 of a serial number.When the endoscopic image is stored in the folder for the first time,the portion 84 of the serial number becomes “001”, and the serial numberis identification information which is incremented by “1” each time anendoscopic image is added thereafter.

In the file name, “jpg” is the portion 85 of an extension which is acharacter string for identifying the kind of the file.

As above, the inspection target information, the inspection locationinformation, the inspection purpose information, the inspection resultinformation and the serial number which respectively corresponds to thefirst to the fourth portions 81 to 84 included in the file name areseparated from one another with use of the predetermined symbols (inthis case, “_” (under bar)”.

Here, the first to the fourth portions 81 to 84 are separated by “_”(under bars), but may be separated with use of other symbols such as “-”(hyphens) and “/” (slashes), or specific characters.

In the portions 81 and 82, “_” (under bars) which are the same as theseparation symbols are used, but since the configurations of thecharacter strings in each of the portions are determined in advance, thePC 43 can specify and extract each of the elements in the file namebased on the predetermined configuration information of each of theportions when the PC 43 creates an inspection report, as will bedescribed later.

As above, the endoscopic images are stored in the folders selected bythe user, and the file name of each of the endoscopic images in each ofthe folders includes the folder name and the file mark.

(Configuration of Inspection Report)

Next, a configuration of an endoscope inspection report which isautomatically created with use of the information of the file name willbe described.

FIG. 11 is a view for explaining an example of the configuration of theendoscope inspection report. An endoscope inspection report(hereinafter, also simply called a report) 100 is displayed on a screenor printed. FIG. 11 shows the configuration of the report which isdisplayed on the screen or printed. The report 100 of the presentembodiment is in a tabular format, and is configured to include fivecolumns of an upper column 101 of an inspection location (Area), a lowercolumn 102 of an inspection location (Block Location), a column 103 ofan inspection purpose (Reason for Inspection), a column 104 of aninspection result (Outcome), and a column 105 of an endoscopic image(Picture). The report 100 is configured to further include a titlesection 106 which displays an inspection target.

The report 100 is created with use of the information of a file name. Inthe title section 106, “ENGINE1_SN001” is shown, which shows that thereport relates to the inspection target “ENGINE1_SN001”. The titlesection 106 n corresponds to the character string of the first portion81 of the file name.

In the example of FIG. 11, “HPC” is shown in the column 101, whichindicates that the inspection location is “HPC”. The column 101corresponds to the character string of the first half portion of thesecond portion 82 of the file name.

In the column 102, “STAGE1_ZONE1” or the like is shown, which indicatesthat the inspection location is “STAGE1_ZONE1” or the like. The column102 corresponds to the character strings at the central portion of thesecond portion 82 of the file name.

In the column 103, “Cracks” or the like is shown, which indicates thatthe inspection purpose is “Cracks” or the like, that is, inspection forcracks or the like. The column 103 corresponds to the character stringof the latter half portion of the second portion 82 of the file name.

As will be described later, the character strings shown in the columns101 to 103 are registered in advance in the predetermined template whichis prepared in advance for each inspection target.

In the column 104, “Accept” or the like is shown, which indicates thatthe inspection result is “Accept (no problem)” or the like. The column104 is generated based on the character string of the third portion 83of the file name.

In the column 105, the endoscopic image corresponding to the file nameis pasted.

In FIG. 11, an endoscopic image 111 which is determined as “Accept” (noproblem) is shown in the report 100 as the result of inspection forcracks about the inspection location of “STAGE1_ZONE1” of “HPC”, as anexample. Likewise, an endoscopic image 112 which is determined as“Accept” (no problem) is also included in the report 100 as the resultof inspection for cracks about the same inspection location(“STAGE1_ZONE1” of “HPC”).

Further, an endoscopic image 113 which is determined as “Re-Inspect”(re-inspection required) as the result of inspection for a surfacedefect about the inspection location of “STAGE1_ZONE1” of “HPC” is shownin the report 100.

Furthermore, as the inspection result about another inspection location,an endoscopic image 114 which is determined as “Reject” (replacementrequired) as the result of inspection for cracks about the site of“STAGE1_ZONE2” of “HPC” is shown in the report 100.

That is to say, the endoscope inspection report shows the endoscopicimage and the inspection result about the image in a tabular format foreach inspection purpose of each inspection location.

(Creation Procedure of Inspection Report)

Next, a creation procedure of the report will be described.

A plurality of endoscopic images which are picked up and obtained by auser are stored in a plurality of folders in the memory card 11 asdescribed above. The user connects the PC 43 to the endoscope apparatus1, and creates the endoscope inspection report 100.

Since the PC 43 can read the information of the memory card 11 of theendoscope apparatus 1, the PC 43 executes the report creation program 45a under the instruction of the user, reads the information of thefolders in the memory card 11, and creates the report. Accordingly, thePC 43 configures an endoscope inspection report creating apparatus.Since the memory card 11 is attachably and detachably connected to theendoscope apparatus 1, the user may directly connect the memory card 11which is detached from the endoscope apparatus 1 to a predeterminedinterface of the PC 43 to enable the PC 43 to read the information ofthe folder, and create the report.

The user prepares the template of the report in advance for eachinspection target of endoscope inspection. The template is created inadvance by the user with use of the PC 43, and is stored in the templatestorage section 45 b of the storage device 45.

FIG. 12 is a view for explaining an example of a template 100 a of thereport. FIG. 12 shows a configuration of the template 100 a of thereport about the inspection target “ENGINE1_SN001”. The template of FIG.12 is a template of the inspection target “ENGINE1_SN001”, andtherefore, at the position of the template 100 a corresponding to thecolumn 106 of the report, the character string of “ENGINE1_SN001” iswritten and set in advance.

Further, the inspection location of the inspection target is determinedin advance, and therefore, at the respective positions of the template100 a corresponding to the columns 101 and 102 of the report, thecharacter strings of “HPC” and “STAGE1_ZONE1” are set in advance.

In a column 104 a of the inspection result (Outcome) of the template 100a, which corresponds to the column 104 of the report, “<JUDGEMENT>” iswritten, and the template 100 a is defined so that the character stringcorresponding to the file mark is inputted.

Further, the data of an endoscopic image is configured such that aninspector can additionally input and store a comment about the image inthe image data as additional information of the image. For example, ifthe endoscopic image is the data in an EXIF format, the user can storethe comment of the inspector in a user comment tag or the like includedin the data as metadata.

Thus, in the column 104 a, “<TITLE>” is written, and the template 100 ais defined so that the stored comment is inputted therein. Accordingly,the template 100 a is defined by also having “<TITLE>” written in thecolumn 104 in addition to “<JUDGEMENT>”, as shown in FIG. 12. A commentis transcribed in the “<TITLE>” portion.

Since an endoscopic image is displayed in the column 105 of the report,“<ENGINE1_SN001_HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1>” is written in the column 105 aof FIG. 12, and the template 100 a is defined so that the endoscopicimage is inputted therein.

As shown in FIG. 12, a template definition section 111 specifies thecontent of the template about the folder “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1”, atemplate definition section 112 specifies the content of the templateabout the folder “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)2”, and a template definitionsection 113 specifies the content of the template about the folder“HPC_STAGE1_ZONE2_(—)1”.

As above, the content which is described in the report is defined foreach folder in the template which is prepared in advance for eachinspection target. Each template specifies respective predeterminedpositions of the inspection result information, the endoscopic image,and the inspection purpose information in a predetermined report. At thespot of the character string at the portion sandwiched by “<” and “>” inthe template which is prepared in advance, the image data, thedetermination result, and the metadata of each of the files which areobtained by analysis are filled. As a result, the report is createdbased on the template as in FIG. 11, and screen display or printout ofthe report is enabled.

In the present embodiment, the example using the template which isdefined so that the data obtained by analysis of the file/file name isfilled therein is described. However, the template may be the one inwhich the rule is set to arrange the inspection target information, theinspection location information, the inspection purpose information, andthe inspection result information separated by the predetermined symbolsin one row for each file.

As above, the template for each inspection target is created in advance.The template information is stored in the template storage section 45 bof the storage device 45. The report creation program 45 a creates thereport based on the template.

Next, creation processing of the report will be described. The endoscopeinspection report is created by the report creation program 45 a whichis stored in advance in the storage device 45 of the PC 43.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of the creationprocessing of the report.

Hereinafter, the creation processing of the report will be describedwith the example of the case in which the user performs endoscopeinspection of “ENGINE1_SN001” which is the inspection target and theuser creates a report by using the template 100 a shown in FIG. 12 as atemplate.

When the user who is an inspector instructs the CPU 43 a of the PC 43about execution of the report creation program 45 a by using input meanssuch as a keyboard of the PC 43, execution of the processing of FIG. 13is started. At this time, the user specifies the template for use increation of the report.

First, the CPU 43 a reads the information of the specified template(S31). The information of the template of FIG. 12 is read from thetemplate storage section 45 b of the storage device 45 of the PC 43.

Next, the CPU 43 a checks presence or absence of the files of all thefolders included in the inspection target for which the report iscreated (S32). For example, when the report of “ENGINE1_SN001” iscreated, whether or not files are present is checked for all the lowerfolders included in the folder of “ENGINE1_SN001” in S32. The processingof S32 configures a file presence/absence determining section whichdetermines presence or absence of the files included in a respectiveplurality of folders.

Next, it is determined whether or not the folder which does not includea file is present (S33). When it is determined that the folder whichdoes not include a file is present (S33: YES), the CPU 43 a displays thefolder which does not include a file on the screen of the monitor of thePC 43 (S34). At this time, addition of file marks may be determined withrespect to the files of all the lower folders, and the files to which afile mark is not added may be displayed in combination.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a display example of a pop-up window whichdisplays the folders which do not include a file. FIG. 14 shows theexample of the folder configuration differing from the example of FIG.3, and shows the example in which when two folders“HPC_STAGE4_ZONE3_(—)1” and “HPC_STAGE5_ZONE1_(—)1” are present as thefolders which do not include a file, in a plurality of folders includedin the inspection target, the two folders are displayed in a pop-upwindow 121.

In the pop-up window 121 of the example of FIG. 14, as the folders whichdo not include a file, the two folders “HPC_STAGE4_ZONE3_(—)1” and“HPC_STAGE5_ZONE1_(—)1” are displayed.

In the pop-up window 121, check buttons 122 and 123 for the user toinput whether the user did not pick up an image at all though the userperformed inspection, or the user did not perform inspection yet aredisplayed, for each folder which does not include a file. Further, inthe pop-up window 121, an “OK” button 124 is also displayed. The usercan select any one of the check buttons 122 and 123 by specifying thecheck button by using the input means such as a mouse. FIG. 14 showsthat since the user specifies that about the folder“HPC_STAGE4_ZONE3_(—)1”, inspection is already performed, the checkbutton 122 is checked and the black circle is displayed, whereas sincethe user specifies that inspection is not performed yet with respect tothe folder “HPC_STAGE5_ZONE1_(—)1”, the check button 123 is checked andthe black circle is displayed.

When the user selects the “OK” button 124 after performing the abovedescribed check, the CPU 43 a acquires the information of the folderwhich does not include a file, which is inputted by the user in thepop-up window 121 (S35).

In the case of NO in S33 and after the processing of S35, the CPU 43 areads the file names of each folder (S36), and creates data in thereport by using the specified template, based on the information of thefile name of each file in each folder (S37). More specifically, in thecase of “ENGINE1_SN001” which is the inspection target, the CPU 43 areads each file in the folder “HPC_STAGE1_ZONE1_(—)1” in the sequence ofthe serial number, and writes the character string indicating theinspection result in the column 104 a based on the file mark in the filename of the read file, and further, pastes the endoscopic image of thefile name on the column 105 a.

As described above, the file mark is configured by one character here,and therefore, in the report, the inspection result information isconverted and written in the column 104 so that the user can understandthe inspection result information.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a file mark correspondencetable in which the character string to be written in the column 104 a ofthe template 100 a is stored for each file mark. The file markcorrespondence table of FIG. 15 may be stored in the storage device 45,or may be defined in the report creation program 45 a.

The file mark correspondence table 131 is a table which includes thefile marks, and the character strings corresponding to the file marks,and is for converting the inspection result information. Accordingly,the CPU 43 a determines the character string corresponding to the filemark in the file name with reference to the file mark correspondencetable 131, and writes the character string in the column 104 a of thetemplate 100 a.

For example, if the file mark in the file name is “A”, the characterstring “Accept” corresponding to “A” is written in the column 104 a ofthe template 100 a. In the example of FIG. 11, the character string“Accept” corresponding to “A” is written in the column 104 a, thecharacter string “Reject” corresponding to “B” is written in the column104 a, and the character string “Re-Inspect” corresponding to “D” iswritten in the column 104 a. That is to say, in S37, the inspectionresult information is converted into predetermined inspection resultinscription information, and is written in the column 104 a of thereport 100 a.

Further, as described above, when a comment is added to the file, theCPU 43 a also writes the comment in the column 104 a of the template 100a. FIG. 11 shows an example in which comments “Some Defects” and“Cracks” are displayed in the column 104.

The CPU 43 a pastes the endoscopic image after performing processing ofreducing the endoscopic image into a predetermined size so that theendoscopic image of the file which is read is suitably included in thecolumn 105 a.

As above, in S36, read of the file name of the endoscopic image in thefolder is performed, and creation of the report data is performed basedon the file name. Accordingly, S36 configures a file name readingsection which reads the file names of a plurality of endoscopic images,with the file name of each of the endoscopic image including theinspection result information separated with use of a predeterminedsymbol or character. Further, S37 configures a report creating sectionwhich creates a predetermined report by writing the inspection resultinformation included in each of the file names which are read by thefile name reading section at respective predetermined positions in thepredetermined report by associating the inspection result informationwith the endoscopic image of each of the file names which is read.

In the aforementioned template, the inspection purpose is determined inadvance, and therefore, the character string of the inspection purposeinformation is set in the column 103 a, but the character stringindicating the inspection purpose may be generated from the inspectionpurpose information included in the portion 82 of the file name, and maybe written therein. For example, when the inspection purpose informationis “1”, “1” is converted into the inspection purpose inscriptioninformation of “Cracks”, and is written in the column 103 a.

In the same manner, since in the aforementioned template, the inspectionlocation is determined, the character strings of the inspection locationinformation are set in the columns 101 a and 102 a, but the inspectionlocation information included in the portions 81 and 82 of the file nameis extracted, and the character strings of the extracted inspectionlocation information may be written. For example, the respectivecharacter strings of “HPC” and “STAGE1_ZONE1” are extracted from theportions 81 and 82, and the two extracted character strings “HPC” and“STAGE1_ZONE1” are respectively written in the columns 101 a and 102 a.

The CPU 43 a performs write of the determination result information inthe column 104 a of the template 100 a, and paste of the endoscopicimage of the file name onto the column 105 a of the template 100 a,based on the file name, with respect to each of the files included inthe folder. The processing of S36 and S37 is performed with respect toall the files in one folder.

After the processing of S37 is finished, the CPU 43 a determines whetheror not execution of the above described processing is finished withrespect to all the folders (S38). This is for executing the similarprocessing with respect to other folders after the processing of S36 andS37 with respect to one folder is finished when a plurality of foldersincluded in the inspection target are present.

If the above described processing is not executed with respect to allthe folders (S38: NO), the processing returns to S36, and the processingof S36 is executed with respect to the other folders for which theprocessing is not executed.

With respect to the folder with inspection finished and withoutincluding an endoscopic image, which is described in FIG. 14, the CPU 43a fills the characters of “No image” in the column 105, or fills theimage with the characters of “NO PHOTO”. Further, for the uninspectedfolder, the character of “Uninspected” is filled in the column 105.

FIG. 16 is a view for explaining a display example of the inspectedfolder which does not include an endoscopic image and the uninspectedfolder in the report. FIG. 16 is the display example about the foldershown in FIG. 14.

As shown in FIG. 16, as to the folder “HPC_STAGE4_ZONE3_(—)1”, an image115 with the characters of “NO PHOTO” is pasted, and “Accept” is writtenin the column 104 a. As for the folder “HPC_STAGE5_ZONE1_(—)1”, acharacter 116 of “Uninspected” is written in the column 105 a. That isto say, when the folder which does not include a file is detected byS32, the file absence information indicating that the folder is the onethat does not include a file is written in the report in S37. The fileabsence information is, for example, the characters of “No image”, theimage with the characters of “NO PHOTO”, and the characters of“Uninspected”.

As above, when processing for all the folders is finished (S38: YES),the contents of the respective columns 101 a to 105 a for each of thefolders are combined and are generated as a separate file from thetemplate 100 a, and the report 100 shown in FIGS. 11 and 16 is outputted(S39). The data of the outputted report 100 is stored in the storagedevice 45, and subsequently displayed on the monitor 43, or outputted toa printer.

That is to say, a plurality of endoscopic images which are obtained bythe endoscope inspection are stored in a plurality of folders which areseparated according to the inspection target information, and in S36 andS37, the endoscopic image and the inspection result information of eachof the file names are written in the predetermined position in thereport for each folder.

Accordingly, when the user specifies the folder of the inspectiontarget, and executes the report creation program 45 a in the PC 43,after performing endoscope inspection, the user can automatically createthe endoscope inspection report as shown in FIGS. 11 and 16.

According to the aforementioned embodiment, the user can easily createthe endoscope inspection report without performing complicated work oflooking at each of endoscopic images, pasting the endoscopic image onthe report in a predetermined format, and copying or inputting thedetermination result of the image in addition as with the conventionalapparatus.

In the above example, the endoscope inspection report is created by thePC 43, but the report may be created in the endoscope apparatus 1. Insuch a case, the report creation processing program 45 a and thetemplate information are stored in the ROM 22, the memory card 11 or thelike of the endoscope apparatus 1 which is the endoscope inspectionreport creation apparatus, the CPU 21 executes the program, and thereport is created.

Furthermore, the entire or part of the program code of the software thatexecutes the operation described above is recorded or stored in movablemedia such as a flexible disk and a CD-ROM, a storage device such as ahard disk, and the like, as computer program product. The program codeis read by the computer, and the entire or part of the operation isexecuted. Alternatively, the entire or part of the program can bedistributed or provided via a communication network. A user can easilyrealize the endoscope inspection report creating apparatus and method ofthe present invention by downloading the program via the communicationnetwork and installing the program in a computer, or installing theprogram in the computer from the storage medium.

The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiment,and various modifications, alterations and the like can be made withinthe range without changing the gist of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An endoscope inspection report creating apparatuscomprising: a folder creating section that accepts input from a user tocreate folders for storing an endoscopic image and folder names thereof,a file name of the endoscopic image including inspection resultinformation of the endoscopic image and a folder name of a folder inwhich the endoscopic image is stored, the folder name being created bythe user; a storage section that stores the endoscopic image in a folderspecified by the user; a file name reading section that reads the foldername and the inspection result information from the file name of theendoscopic image; a report creating section that creates a predeterminedreport by writing the folder name and the inspection result informationread by the file name reading section and the endoscopic imagecorresponding to the file name read by the file name reading section ina template of the predetermined report; and an outputting sectionconfigured to output the predetermined report created by the reportcreating section to the user.
 2. The endoscope inspection reportcreating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising aninspection result information setting section that performs control toinclude the inspection result information in the file name, wherein thestorage section stores the endoscopic image in the folder specified bythe user after the inspection result information is included in the filename by the inspection result information setting section.
 3. Theendoscope inspection report creating apparatus according to claim 2,wherein the inspection result information setting section performs thecontrol to include the inspection result information in the file nameafter a storage destination folder, in which the endoscopic image is tobe stored, is determined.
 4. The endoscope inspection report creatingapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the inspection resultinformation setting section creates the file name by adding theinspection result information to the folder name of a storagedestination folder after the storage destination folder, in which theendoscopic image is to be stored, is determined.
 5. The endoscopeinspection report creating apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising a folder information displaying section that displays afolder name of a folder which is a candidate for storing the endoscopicimage when the user specifies a folder in which the endoscopic image isto be stored.
 6. The endoscope inspection report creating apparatusaccording to claim 5, wherein the folder information displaying sectiondisplays a folder name of a folder which is a candidate for storing theendoscopic image in a state in which the endoscopic image is displayed.7. The endoscope inspection report creating apparatus according to claim1, wherein: the folder creating section enables creation of a pluralityof folders in a hierarchical structure; the file name further includes afolder name of a folder in an upper hierarchy to which a storagedestination folder belongs, the endoscopic image being stored in thestorage destination folder; the file name reading section further readsthe folder name of the folder in the upper hierarchy; and the reportcreating section creates the predetermined report based on the foldername of the storage destination folder in which the endoscopic image isstored, the folder name of the folder in the upper hierarchy, theinspection result information, and the endoscopic image, which are readby the file name reading section.
 8. The endoscope inspection reportcreating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the folder name of thefolder in the upper hierarchy is included in the file name so as to bepositioned prior to the folder name of the folder in which the endoscopeimage is stored.
 9. The endoscope inspection report creating apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the report creating section creates thepredetermined report based on the template in tabular form.
 10. Theendoscope inspection report creating apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the report creating section converts the inspection resultinformation into predetermined inspection result inscription informationand writes the inspection result inscription information in thetemplate.
 11. An endoscope inspection report creating method,comprising: accepting input from a user to create folders for storing anendoscopic image and folder names thereof; accepting input from the userto specify a storage destination folder in which an endoscopic image isto be stored; storing the endoscopic image in the storage destinationfolder specified by the user, a file name of the endoscopic imageincluding inspection result information of the endoscopic image and thefolder name of the folder in which the endoscopic image is stored, thefolder name being created by the user; reading the folder name and theinspection result information from the file name of the endoscopicimage; creating a predetermined report by writing the read folder nameand the read inspection result information and the endoscopic imagecorresponding to the read file name in a template of the predeterminedreport; and outputting the created predetermined report to the user. 12.The endoscope inspection report creating method according to claim 11,further comprising performing control to include the inspection resultinformation in the file name, wherein the endoscopic image is stored inthe storage destination folder after performing the control to includethe inspection result information in the file name.
 13. The endoscopeinspection report creating method according to claim 12, whereinperforming the control to include the inspection result information inthe file name is executed after the storage destination folder isspecified.
 14. The endoscope inspection report creating method accordingto claim 11, wherein accepting the input from the user to specify thestorage destination folder includes displaying a folder name of acandidate for a folder in which the endoscopic image is to be storedwhen the user specifies the storage destination folder in which theendoscopic image is to be stored.
 15. The endoscope inspection reportcreating method according to claim 11, wherein accepting the input fromthe user to specify the storage destination folder includes displayingthe endoscopic image and a folder name of a candidate for a folder inwhich the endoscopic image is to be stored when the user specifies thestorage destination folder in which the endoscopic image is to bestored.
 16. The endoscope inspection report creating method according toclaim 11, wherein: accepting the input from the user to create thefolders includes enabling the user to create a plurality of folders forstoring the endoscopic image in a hierarchical structure; the file namefurther includes a folder name of a folder in an upper hierarchy towhich the storage destination folder belongs, the endoscopic image beingstored in the storage destination folder; reading the folder name andthe inspection result information from the file name further includesreading the folder name of the folder in the upper hierarchy; and thepredetermined report is created based on the folder name of the storagedestination folder in which the endoscopic image is stored, the foldername of the folder in the upper hierarchy, the inspection resultinformation, and the endoscopic image.
 17. The endoscope inspectionreport creating method according to claim 11, wherein the predeterminedreport is created based on the template in tabular form.
 18. Theendoscope inspection report creating method according to claim 11,wherein creating the predetermined report includes converting theinspection result information into predetermined inspection resultinscription information and writing the inspection result inscriptioninformation in the template.